There is nothing quite like a sequestered little town anywhere in the sticks populated by a bunch of AARP hippies. The guys with the grey beards and moth-eaten tie-dyed shirts, and the woman with the long braids of grey hair and little whiskers! Free spirits who hate government, but are happy to collect their disability and social security checks! Like Ayn Rand did!

Woodstock in NY is like that. You almost feel like you have just stepped out of a time machine, except the people are all wrinkled and limping from arthritis! And they don't believe in deodorant!

DP and crew does it again. One of best ride reports. You guys continue to raise the bar when it come to finding interesting routes to explore and you are in simpatico with the weather gods for sure. The scenery and camera work is simply stunning. Well done and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Now I really know I live on the wrong coast.

Hey DP,
I'm just tuning in for the first time(so don't anyone tell me how it ends) and absolutely love all the different bikes on this trip. I own two of them,and the other two I've always wanted to ride so it'll be nice to read how they all did.
I always enjoy your reports, I'm sure this one won't disappoint .

During the last days of this trip I was wishing for sand. I went so far as to say to my colleagues that I would kiss the South Jersey Pine Barrens sand when we got home.

This trip was all about rocks. Rocks in the morning, rocks at mid-day, rocks late in the day. Long long stretches of rocks. Only two sections that were really difficult where I think we all felt lucky to get through with no drops or damage. (Well maybe not Bruce, pretty much everything is effortless for him). I don't mind the rocks so much. But day after day after day in Washington and Oregon it was just endless rocks. Probably didnt help that at one section in Washington I went off course a bit and had a difficult uphill rock climb when I knew noone was coming behind me and they didnt know where I was. Remember, we ride untethered. I somehow missed a turn and realized after a few minutes I was off course. I consulted the GPS and saw that if I continued on my current heading I would reconnect with the planned route after a couple of miles. What I didn't know when I made the decision to continue rather than doubling back was I faced this difficult section. When I came to the uphill rock climb I was too far into it to double back.

The purpose of this little excpert is just to warn anyone considering following our route or riding the WABDR or ORBDR to be prepared for the rocks.

You are right about Ruby Grade, its a thrill even in a FWD pickup. Used to live the Okanogan and would ride this route 4 or 5 times a summer. The fire (Tripod Complex) happened in 2006 and was the largest fire in the nation that year, it took most of the summer to control it. COOL report.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

We popped out in Conconully mid morning. A small community of friendly people.

We took a coffee break. This was one of those moments fellas (and ladies of course), where you sit down with your coffee, lean back, kick your feet up and it starts to sink in.
All the planning and anticipation is over. Your actually here, doing what you love to do. And it has just begun..............

We ride on.

The Ruby Grade

It would prove to be our 1st challenging section. Of course the photos don't depict the the steep grade as it was, nor the extreme drop off on the immediate starboard side which grabbed your attention.

One of those grades where it was difficult to stop and snap a picture. Your skills at properly working your clutch would be tested when you did in order to get going again.

During the last days of this trip I was wishing for sand. I went so far as to say to my colleagues that I would kiss the South Jersey Pine Barrens sand when we got home.

JB

This was another epic journey, typical of your team. No doubt a physical workout. Given the daily pounding you guys and your bikes apparently took, many may be wondering: Was it too long? If so, how would you have shortened it?